MLB Player News

Rodgers (illness) is starting at second base and batting fifth Friday versus the Blue Jays in his return to the lineup.

It's Rodgers' first start since Sunday, as he's been battling an illness this week but is finally feeling well enough to give it a go. The infielder is sporting just a .218/.274/.295 slash line in 20 games since returning from shoulder surgery in late July.

The Mets optioned Mendick to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

With the arrival of Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio to the major-league squad Friday, Mendick will be pushed back to the minors. The 29-year-old infielder slashed just .190/.227/.286 across 66 plate appearances with the Mets and will likely finish the season in Syracuse.

Mauricio was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Mauricio is playing second base and batting ninth for the Mets on Friday versus the Mariners in his major-league debut. The 22-year-old has batted .292/.346/.506 with 23 home runs and 24 stolen bases this season with Syracuse. A switch hitter, Mauricio is expected to see most of his playing time at second base but is capable of handling shortstop, third base and left field as well.

The Mariners recalled Haggerty from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

As MLB rosters expand to 28 players, Haggerty will return to Seattle to give the team a bench bat capable of filling in at multiple positions. His versatility may buy him semi-regular playing time, but with a .613 OPS on the season through 62 plate appearances, it's unlikely he makes much of an impact for the Mariners.

Rodriguez was recalled from Double-A Binghamton on Friday.

Rodriguez was up briefly with the White Sox back in June but didn't receive a plate appearance. He's posted a .747 OPS with 18 home runs and 28 stolen bases in 87 games with Binghamton this season. The 22-year-old can handle second base, third base and shortstop.

Wall was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game reports.

The 27-year-old had a four-game stint with Atlanta earlier this season but has spent the bulk of the year at Gwinnett, posting a .799 OPS with eight homers and 52 stolen bases. He'll provide depth at all three outfield spots.

Short went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Yankees.

Short put up the first run of the contest in the fifth inning, swatting a solo shot to left field off Clarke Schmidt. The shortstop hit three long balls over his first 29 at-bats this season but has gone deep just three times across 76 at-bats since. Short had been struggling prior to Thursday, going 2-for-23 with no RBI over his previous 14 games while working mostly in a bench role.

Albies will be held out of the lineup Thursday against the Dodgers, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

It's a planned day of rest for the 26-year-old second baseman, who just returned Monday from a two-week absence to heal a left hamstring strain. Albies went 5-for-10 with five singles in the final two games of Atlanta's previous series at Colorado. Nicky Lopez is starting at second base and batting ninth Thursday in Los Angeles.

Drury went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk, three total RBI and two total runs in Wednesday's 10-8 win over the Phillies.

Drury knocked in a run with a single in the first inning to put the Angels up 5-2. Philadelphia stormed back to carry a one-run lead into the ninth, but Los Angeles tied the score on a Luis Rengifo sacrifice fly before Drury put the team ahead with a two-run blast to right-center field off Craig Kimbrel. The long ball was the 19th of the campaign for Drury, the second-highest total of his career behind last season's 28. Over 23 games in August, Drury slashed .245/.258/.447 with five homers, 19 RBI and 11 runs.

Lopez was designated for assignment by the Reds on Thursday.

Lopez was just called up Tuesday, but the Reds needed to clear out 40-man roster space after claiming Harrison Bader and Hunter Renfroe ahead of Thursday's waiver deadline. Mike Siani has also been designated for assignment.